Thermostatic radiator trap



March 12,*1929. w s VALMORE 1,704,848 THERMOSTAT'IC RADIATOR TRAP l n Filed Jan.15l 1927 ,M l' I ill l i! i 1H FL maw |NVENTOR Vwhich steam is used.

Patented Mar. 1,2, 19.29.

l i v.STATES g PATENroFFlcE.

WILLIAM s. VALMORE. or ivrANsrIELn, omo.v

THERMOSTATIC RADIATOR TRAP.

Apinieation mea January 13. 1927'.V serial No. 160,925.

This invention relates to improvements in trapsfor radiators intended foruse in connection with heating systems in which it is desired to vent condensation from themains, returns, or other portion of the system in point the air and such water as may condense v in the radiators, or as may leak through the valves. The water which passes through the automatic trap; and the steam which enters the trap both contain` more or less dirt or vgrit which collects upon trap seats and interferes with the successful operation of the trap. The traps become dirty and it is necessary to clean them in order to bring them back to their normal working conditions; but such traps heretofore have required the services of a skilled mechanic to open the traps to clean them and then to readjust them properly andV the advantages gained by cleaning the traps j may be morethan offset yby the disadvantages following from improper adjustment. An object of my invention is'to provide an air trap of the type to which I have referred which may be cleaned without requiring the services of a skilled mechanic and without danger of disarrangemcnt of the adjustment of the parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a trap which will allow the condensa.- tion to freely escape from the system past the trap, but which will close and positively prevent the escape of steam when the trap has reached a certain temperature. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic trap of the class described which comprises comparatively few parts and which is simple and rigid in construction, easily assembled and ydisassembled and which is well adapted for quantity production at comparatively low cost. v

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized are hereinafter ointed out with particularity in the claim; and a full understanding of my invention and its objects and advantagesmay be had by reference to the accompanying drawingin which Fig. l is a transverse sectional `viewof a trap constructed in accordance with my invention showing` the` same attached to a radiator, which is shown in dotted lines; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view 'on the line 2-2 ofFig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a substantially cylindrical trap or casing having a laterally extending threaded nippleB adapted to be connected with a radiator, and a downwardly. extending interiorly threaded nipple C adaptedfor connection with a drain pipe C. The open end of the casing is interiorly threaded as shown at D and is adapted toreceive a threaded cap or cover E prof Y videdwith a'hexagonal boss F vadapted to receive a wrench. The cover 'E is provided withan overhanging peripheral flange E and a depending annular exteriorly threaded skirt adapted to engage with the threads D on the casing. Secured within the cover E isa flexible diaphragm Gr substantially'in thev lform of a shallow vcup andhaving a peripheral flange G thereon as shown. The p v v diaphragm is placed within the cover and, if desired lugs may be cut out 'of the wall of the skirt and bent down over the peripheral flange Gof the diaphragm at one or more points. The annular depression between the side wall of the diaphragm andthe wall of the depending skirt is filled withsolder to hermetically seal the diaphragm to the'cover. Adjustably securedwithin the inletv opening is a bushing I-I, the inner end of .which is formed to provide a valve seat. The bushing y H is provided with a tool receiving portion H whereby the position of the bushing with respect to the trap member may be adjusted. In this connection it should be noted that the trap cover and diaphragm may be removed.A and cleaned or replaced without Ydisturbing the adjustment of the bushing. Secured to the diaphragm G in axial alignment with the bushing is a valve member I which is attached to the diaphragm by means of a screw plug K. The thermostatic diskor diaphragm Gr is made of a metal having a high coeiiicient of expansion and which, due to its shape, is adapted to flex inwardly when heated, but normally maintains the position shown in Fig. 1 with the valve I open and allows water in the radiator to lenter the inlet and pass out through the outlet C to a suitable drain pipe C. When all of the water has passed through the casing and steam begins to enter ics .n

through the inlet'opening the samer will heat the thermostatic diaphragm G and cause the same tofexpand and to flex to the right as seen in Fig. l to seat the valve member l kon the innei` end of the bushing and positively/prevent the esc-ape 0I" steam throne-h the trap chamber. wrWhen the radiator is turned oil and is cooled suiliciently, the diaphragm also is cooled and assumesthe position shown in Fig. l. l y

Attention is called to thefact that the diaphragm is carried entirely by the cover andr Operation,

Assuming that the trap is connected inl the return line of a heating system with the nipple B connected to a radiator which is cold andthe nipple@ connected with a drain C;-when steam isfrturned on 'any water'which ina-y 'be in the radiatorpasses ahead of the steam into the cassteam reaches the` trap the vdiaphragni becomes heated Vand expands which thereby causes the `diaphragm to iex inwardly to 1 move the valve l against its seat to close the inlet opening' and to prevent escape et steam. vWhen the steam is shut ofi' and the radiator cools, the diaphragm also cools and lexes outwardly and assumes its original position as shown in Fig. 1. The diaphragm is so and. Vout through the drain pipe C. lVhen the constructed that at all temperatures below a certain point it assumes the position shown in Fig. l and when the temperature goes above this point it leXes to right as seen in Fig. 1 to close the inlet opening. Y

While I have described and illustrated with particularity only a single form of my invention, ldo not desire to be limited to the specific details so illustrated and described but intend covering' all constructions and arrangements which' fall within the terms and scope oit-the appended claim. I

it will now be clear that I have provided a device which will accomplish the objects "5i el' the invention as hereinbefore stated.

laviiie; thus described my invention, what i claim is:

in an automatic trap of the character described, a easing having an inlet: and an out-V let, 'a valve seat within said casing, a cover for said casing' having an annular threaded skirt adapted for threaded engagement with the casing, a iexible thermostatic diaphragm carried by said cover, saidV diaphragm being` in the form of a shallow cup and having an Vannular peripheral flange adapted to be secured to said cup, lugs cut out of the wall of aaid ski rt and beat down over said peripheral l l; the annular depression between the .Le wall of said diaphrao'm and the saiddepending skirt being); substantially filledwitli solder, thesaid diaphragm beingto shaped and having` such a coeicient of expansion as to iler; inwardly or outwardly in accordance with changes in temperature within ysaid cas ing, a valve ymember carried lby said diaphragin in axial lalignmentwith said valve `seat and adapted to nieve with saidkdiaphragni to open or close said valve.

lin testimony whereof, I hereunto aitix my signature.

Y WILLIAM s. vALMoRE; 

